Kirk looks at ways of encouraging young to be elders
MORE teenage church members are to take tutelage to become elders under plans to help bridge the generation gap in the Church of Scotland.
Church leaders have been told to consider taking on younger elders pastoral and stewardships trustees in parishes.
Now Kirk Sessions are to consider elders of “all ages and backgrounds” as new figures show a massive drop in young members who it is claimed are unsure who to become more involved with there congregation.
The Church is also to review the rules on communion for children as new figures showed the number of under-18s in the Church dropped by 23% in four years.
Returns from presbyteries show that the number of children and young people aged 17 years and under who are involved in the life of congregations is down to 50,035.
The number of children who receive Holy Communion is 2,844.
Rev Norman Smith, Mission and Discipleship Council convener, said: “Without elders our churches would not function.
“They are the glue that holds together worshipping communities up and down the land.
“We are grateful for the years and in some cases decades of service which elders give.
“Yet we recognise that the tasks needed of Elders are changing to reflect a changing world.”
He added: “Eldership shouldn’t be age determined, it should be determined by the gifts that someone has.”
The number of elders has dropped by 26% to 30,301 in 10 years.
Robin Downie, outgoing National Youth Assembly Moderator, said: “Encouraging use of talents throughout a person’s lifetime beginning with young children in worship which could lead to encouraging young people to become deacons and ministers.
“Young people are unsure of how they can get involved and are keen for development and growing opportunities in church.
“Many delegates were keen to become members or elders in their church but did not know how or what it involved or in some cases if their church would be open to a young elder.”
However, in one congregation all of those within the 18 to 25 year age group are already invited to be part of the long-term process of recruiting new elders.